If your move to Park City includes a family pet, then you have chosen the right place. Our active mountain town proudly boasts the dog-friendly nickname “Bark City,” but whether you’re headed to Utah with dogs, cats, birds, chickens or horses, you’ll find yourself in surrounded by a community of animal lovers. 

To help you get the lay of the land, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite parks, patios and local services, but let’s be clear: These are only a sampling of all the wonderful choices available for pet parents in our mountain town.

We encourage you to ask friends and neighbors for their recommendations, and we hope you enjoy discovering our picks and more as you settle into your new Park City home.

Making your pet feel at home in Park City

Moving can be stressful for both you and your pet(s), but there are some basic tips that can help keep the stress to a minimum, according to Moving.com, which features an entire “Moving with Pets” series online. Among the top tips: Keeping a routine — even when it’s hard. But a smart packing strategy will help you do so before, during, and after your move. 

When packing up your pet’s belongings, plan for at least two boxes: one essentials box that remains accessible during the entire move and one or more box for everything else. The essentials box should contain everything your pet might need during the day or in the event of an emergency, including vaccine records, medications, food, bowls for food and water, treats, kitty litter and scoop, harness/leash, waste bags, blanket/throw/towel and toys.

Upon arrival, set up their spot as soon as possible with their bed or crate, litter box, fresh water and toys. Introduce them to one room at a time and give them extra attention and supervision. For dogs, making sure they get extra exercise will help release some anxiety, while cats can be encouraged to discover their new home with the help of well-placed toys and scratchers. 

Now that everyone is settled in, it’s time to get about exploring! 

Pet wellness-care options abound in Park City

Choosing your care team is a personal decision, but finding a conveniently located veterinary clinic is a no-brainer in Park City: Park City Animal Clinic is centrally located near Old Town in Prospector, while Silver Creek Animal Clinic is easily accessible from I-40 at the Silver Springs neighborhood and Bark City Veterinary Specialists is near Canyons Village. Out at Kimball Junction, White Pine Veterinary Hospital sits just off the frontage road, while VCA Powder Paws Animal Hospital and Pinebrook Animal Hospital make life easy for residents in Jeremy Ranch and Pinebrook. 

Specialty wellness that’s worth it: Utah Pet Rehab & Acupuncture Center may be located in Salt Lake City, but it’s Park City-based team of specialists make this clinic worth the drive. Dr. Shawna McCall and physical therapist Pat Werner treat a host of conditions with state-of-the-art rehabilitation services including laser and ultrasound therapy, underwater treadmill, and veterinary acupuncture.

Looking for more reasons to love living in Park City? Read these posts next:

• 7 Undeniable Reasons to Make Park City Your Home
• Top 5 Reasons to Buy a Vacation Property in Park City 

Check out Park City’s dog parks and off-leash areas

Owning a dog in Park City is as common as owning skis or a bike for town’s active residents of this four-season playground. But where to go when you both want to take in the great outdoors? Chances are there’s a dog park or off-leash area located just minutes from you! As you check out all the wide-open spaces that our town has to offer, please note proper etiquette includes having dogs leashed at trailheads and in parking lots (and all other areas that are not designated as off-leash areas or dog parks); and bring poop bags to pick up your dog’s mess and keep the environment clean. (Reminder: There is NO poop fairie! Please put your bags in a trash receptacle.)

• Library Field: Dogs have free range of this off-leash area located in the open field next to the Park City Library, a favorite Old Town meeting spot.
• Quinn’s Junction Dog Park: Located near the Park City Hospital, this sizable fenced-in location sits near the trails of Round Valley, making it a win-win for the owner who wants to jog with their dog and then hit the park for some playtime.
• Round Valley: Located in Park Meadows, Round Valley offers 30 miles of trails where dogs can roam off-leash. The trails are also open during the winter, so you can take the dog along while nordic skiing, snowshoeing, or even fat-tire biking. 
• Run-A-Muk: With 43 acres and two miles of trails situated just below the Utah Olympic Park, this fenced-in four-seasons park is a paradise for dogs and owners. You log your steps and your dog logs at least twice as many as you take in gorgeous views. 
• Trailside Park: Trailside features two separate sides that accommodate small and large dogs, and both have sodded grass and natural surfaces. There’s also a one-mile off-leash trail, perfect for a stroll.
• Willow Creek Dog Park: This enclosed 2.4-acre fenced-in area features a grassy area and a large dog-friendly pond. The pond has a zero-entry point along one bank plus a floating dock for more adventurous dogs. Surrounding the pond is a 1/3-mile soft surface trail and 24,000-square-feet area of “fetch” space, complete with an agility course and three small shade shelters.
• The Woods at Parley’s Lane: This small, yet beautiful spot features a half-acre dog area with training and exercise features to keep your four-legged friend fit. 

BONUS: Pet-friendly patios: We love bringing our dogs on our daily excursions, which fortunately don’t have to end at the trailhead. Plenty of restaurants and bars in Park City are welcoming to pups, so we can take them along when warmer temperatures beckon for a table on the patio. Visitparkcity.com has an extensive list of dog-friendly patios to check out, but we’re particularly fond of several canine-inspired establishments including Blind Dog Restaurant & Raw Bar, Collie’s Sports Bar & Grill, and Hugo Coffee.

Doggie daycare: Where to go for sleepovers, playdates, grooming and more

• Doginhaus: With 6,000 square feet of indoor-outdoor play space, Doginhaus is great for doggie daycare, but their overnight lodging for dogs and cats goes next level with its “Turn Down Service,” which includes a nightly picture of your fur-baby being put to bed with a cozy blanket and a cookie from Park City Barkery. 
• Fetch: Located in Kamas, this 50-acre ranch offers kennel-free dog services for daycare and boarding, and includes complementary pick-up and drop-off of your dog at your home! 
• Park City Pet Resort: This “resort,” located on 7.5 acres in Silver Creek, offers full-service boarding, daycare and grooming services for cats and dogs, and features more than 7,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space for four seasons of fun. 
• Rocky Mountain K9: Located in Oakley, Rocky Mountain K9 offers a home-like boarding experience with refresher dog-training sessions, plus a full-service grooming salon at their Kamas location. 

Shop local: Specialty items for your pet found right here in Park City!

• Barking Cat: The boutique pet store owned by Park City resident Merridee Farr offers limited-ingredient treats, eco-friendly interactive toys for dogs and cats, collars, leashes and more, but perhaps the part if the Barkery – a case full of custom cookies, cakes, and whoopie pies specially created for dogs.
• Boom Dog Creations: Park City’s Kathy Pederson creates one-of-a-kind collars, cuffs, bootlets and bowls, all crafted from repurposed hand-tooled Western leathers, vintage rhinestone brooches, and authentic Southwestern silver conchos. 
• Hemped Park City: This woman-owned boutique offers 100-percent, organically grown non-gmo CBD products for people and pets, and it contributes a percentage of sales to local charities supporting children, adults, and animals.
• Love Your Pet: This Park City company has been handcrafting artisanal dog and cat food since 1990 and also offers meaty bones, homemade jerky treats and nutritional supplements.
• Summit Antler Chews: Each antler from Summit Antler Chews is a cut piece of all-natural, naturally shed antler from North American elk, many of them gathered by co-owners Patrick and Anjalyn Rosevear. Change it up with odor-free bully sticks, Himalayan yak bars, and gator chews. Order online and join the loyalty program to earn points immediately.  

Are you thinking about moving to Park City? Get in touch with us by calling 435-647-8035 or emailing us at info@cmfhparkcity.com today!